The City of Parksville is installing “sharps” containers in public restrooms in Community Park, Springwood Park, Foster Park and the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre.
A “sharp” is described in a city news release as any object which can pierce, puncture or cut the skin. These include pen needles for insulin, lancets, syringes, knives, scalpels, razors, scissors and broken glass, among others.
With needle finds and the resulting risk to the general public increasing, the city has made installing the containers a priority. Discarded drug paraphernalia like syringes, stray needles and other sharp objects have become a challenge for the city and safe disposal is considered a public safety issue.
Containers for the disposal of sharps will be located in the public washrooms, made of hard puncture-resistant plastic and marked with a biohazard symbol.
“Problematic drug use is an unfortunate reality in our society. Throughout Vancouver Island there are many different programs in place to support users to quit and/or reduce their habit,” said the news release, encouraging people to contact Island Health for more information about the disposal of needles and other drug paraphernalia.
The Central Island VIHA communicable disease program can be contacted at 1-866-770-7798.
— Submitted by the City of Parksville